Waffle House Eliminates Surcharge on Eggs

This article was originally published by The Epoch Times: Waffle House Eliminates Surcharge on Eggs

In a remarkable turn of events, the price of a dozen eggs has plummeted by 27% since its peak in March. Yes, you read that right—those little oval wonders are now a bit lighter on the wallet.

Waffle House, the beloved diner known for its late-night waffles and hash browns, recently announced the removal of its egg surcharge, initially introduced to cope with the astronomical egg prices earlier this year. “Egg-cellent news… as of June 2, the egg surcharge is officially off the menu. Thanks for understanding!” the restaurant jubilantly declared in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on July 1.

This surcharge, a modest 50 cents per egg, was first implemented back in February when consumers were grappling with prices that had more than tripled—from $2.04 per dozen in August 2023 to a staggering $6.22 by March 2025. Thankfully, prices have since retreated to around $4.54 per dozen in May, thanks in part to a concerted effort from agricultural authorities.

The dramatic decline in egg prices followed Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’ announcement of a $1 billion strategy unveiled on February 26, aimed at tackling the avian flu crisis that had crippled the poultry industry. In a statement, the White House even credited former President Donald Trump for “defeating inflation,” which conveniently included the recent drop in egg prices.

“I ate there [Waffle House] today to celebrate!” exclaimed Rep. Jimmy Patronis (R-Fla.) in a light-hearted response to the diner’s announcement, showcasing how even politicians can find joy in the little things—like affordable breakfast foods.

According to a June 27 report from the Department of Agriculture, wholesale prices for large, graded eggs fell by $0.19 to $2.54 per dozen, signaling a shift in the market. This follows a broader trend where both retail and wholesale egg prices have decreased significantly since their peak earlier this year.

Egg Prices and Flu

The strategy initiated by Rollins to combat avian flu and reduce egg prices allocated $500 million for biosecurity measures on egg farms, $400 million in financial relief for farmers, and $100 million earmarked for vaccine research. A June 26 update from the USDA noted that wholesale egg prices have decreased by 64%, while retail prices have dropped by 27% from their earlier highs.

“When President Trump took office, the cost of eggs was at an all-time high, severely impacting consumers’ budgets after years of persistent inflation,” Rollins stated. “On my first day as Secretary, we launched a five-pronged strategy to enhance biosecurity on farms and lower egg prices at grocery stores. The plan has worked, and families are beginning to see relief.”

To date, more than 900 biosecurity assessments have been completed across the United States, with the USDA covering the costs of these assessments and contributing to the enhancements of biosecurity measures at farms. Financial aid has also been made available to farmers, aiding them in repopulating poultry flocks following any outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

“Since February 27, 2025, when the USDA increased indemnity values available to producers impacted by HPAI, over $70 million has been disbursed to directly support layer flocks,” the USDA reported. This financial backing has provided some stability for producers as they work to replenish their flocks as swiftly as possible.

Additionally, the USDA has ramped up imports to stabilize the domestic egg supply, easing the burden on consumers. As of January 2025, over 26 million dozen shell eggs have been sourced from countries like Brazil, Honduras, Mexico, Turkey, and South Korea for processing and pasteurization, thereby increasing the availability of eggs on the market.

In a post dated June 19, the United Egg Producers association noted that avian flu has impacted 53 commercial egg farms this year, affecting over 39 million birds. Fortunately, the rate of flu detections has slowed, with only three farms affected in May and just one in June, suggesting that the industry may be on the mend.

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